A/N: And here's another chapter! Quite a heavy one, lots of revelations and plot and all, but that's all I'm going to say about it :P Oh, and that this story is now definitely diverting from the established canon in the anime (if it hadn't done so before, already).Thank you for your support, and please enjoy!

To Guest: Yes, we're getting into the real meat of the story now! Thank you very much :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the picture used as cover.

Leave Brocko Alone!

Chapter 6

"So, Dad, guess what?" Despite my attempts to sound casual, I wasn't completely able to hide the excitement in my voice. Dad looked up from the paper he was hastily leafing through and cocked his head. I leaned against the door frame in another attempt to look nonchalant, but the grin threatening to break out on my face ruined it.

"What is it?" There was controlled amusement in his voice, and his eyebrows were raised.

"I just called Lucy..." I paused for dramatic purposes – I knew how long Dad had been waiting and eagerly looking forward to this moment – "...aaaand she agreed to come visit." I finally allowed my grin to break my composure, but it drooped a bit when Dad's face stayed blank.

My eyebrows furrowed, but I attempted again, stressing the words, "For a few days. To stay here, in the house. So she can meet the family."

Now finally his mouth contorted in what was a sad attempt for a grin, and something heavy dropped in my stomach. My own smile fell off my face and I straightened, leaving the door frame for what it was and I walked into the kitchen.

"That's great, Brock, that's really great!" Dad attempted to quell my wariness with overly enthusiastic words. "That's a big step and I'm really looking forward to meeting Lucy." His smile stretched so wide it looked painful. "The kids will love her," he finished in a strangely thick voice.

"Right." I gave him a look and slid down in the chair opposite him. He averted his eyes, back to the paper on the table, and his smile diminished until it seemed like it had never been there at all.

Automatically, I opened my mouth to call him out on his strange behavior, but my mind shut it again just in time. Yes, Dad was obviously hiding something, but… he was my father. Could I pry into this, or was this something I really had no right to know, maybe even something I didn't even want to know? The twisting of my insides intensified, and I shifted on the chair.

"Dad..." My voice was unintentionally soft, and it had a vulnerable, almost boyish edge that surprised me. Dad looked up, his brown eyes troubled and the wrinkles around them suddenly more apparent to me.

"Brock..." His voice broke in hesitation and perhaps something else. His hands were clasped together and for some moments he stared at them, although I doubted he actually saw them. Then, his shoulders tensed and he looked back up, jaw set and lips pressed together. "Brock, for some time, I've been meaning to tell you something."

I now mirrored his look of seriousness, fruitlessly trying to suppress the terrifying possibilities my mind was conjuring up – was he sick, was there something with the kids, the Pokémon, the house, the Gym, and, very distantly, did he want to leave again. My hands were clammy as I clasped the fabric of my trousers tightly.

"Alright." I tried to keep my voice even, but I doubted my success.

He swallowed, looking down at his hands again, but he quickly turned back to me. He looked as serious as I'd ever seen him.

"Brock... I don't... I don't want to scare you," he started, and really, he was definitely failing at the not-scaring part. "And please, you have to understand that I'd never planned it like this..." Alright, I attempted to rationalize, whatever was going on is something he has some measure of control over, then. "I can't ask you... I mean, I can't expect you not to be angry or confused or, or, sad..." It took me a moment to place the emotion – fear? It confused me as much as it worried me.

"The kids are my highest priority, and I'd never... I'd never do anything to purposely hurt them, you know that- And I'll do my very best to prevent any unintentional hurt. I never wanted to hurt them-" Was he talking about when he had left? He wasn't making much sense to me, but the importance of the situation was obvious.

He looked at me, pleadingly. "She never wanted that, either-"

"She?" I immediately latched onto the word.

"Brock..." Dad swallowed. "I've been in contact with your mother."

I could only stare in response.

Everything fell away. My hands slipped off of my legs and onto the chair, which I gripped tightly, suddenly needing physical contact to keep away the lightness in my head. My heart raced and the air had suddenly become heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

"Wh-what?" It was only when I heard the hoarse whisper that I realized I had spoken.

"She misses you," Dad said, his hands untangling to awkwardly reach across the table. "All of you, so much." He paused, his hand taking a gentle hold on my upper arm. "And… we- we're in love." I tensed up, if possible, even more.

Dad picked up speed. "And I know it's difficult, especially for you, and I'd never want to do anything without your permission and consideration when concerning the kids, but please consider that she misses you and it's everything to her to see you all again, and me, too-" The obvious hope on his face only intensified the mess of emotions I was feeling and thoughts I was not yet processing.

"To be a whole family again..." he finished, quietly, squeezing my arm. I looked at his hand on my arm, a lump in my throat and my eyes inexplicably burning.

Silence reigned for what could be mere seconds or full minutes, until Dad finally broke it with a whispered "Brock?"

"I..." Mom... She left us, she left Dad, she left me with the kids, and now she wants to come back just like that-

"No." I shook my head, fiercely, and pulled my arm free. "No, no," I repeated, my voice rising in volume. "It's good like this. Mom- No! She left us, she left you, how can you-!"

The stricken look on Dad's face made me realize that I was standing and yelling, and I snapped my mouth shut.

"No," I bit out with another shake of my head. "No. It's not going to happen. Never. She's not- And you-" My voice was rising again, and I squeezed my burning eyes shut, as not to see Dad's face anymore. "It was perfectly fine like this! Why do you have to go and ruin it again?!"

Something wet and warm escaped my eyes, and my voice broke. "No." With one last shake of my head, I turned, and fled to my room.

It was not how I'd imagined I'd be spending my afternoon: frustratingly punching, wringing and otherwise abusing my pillow, while even more frustratingly trying to choke back tears and wiping my cheeks, which was followed by restlessly pacing, and now I was finally, empty and exhausted, lying on my bed, unseeingly staring up at the ceiling.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't even know what I wanted- no, wait, I did. I wanted to hide somewhere and disappear forever. Or, even better, I just wanted this situation to go away, to disappear like it had been never there.

Or, really, it would already just be nice if someone else would fix this for me, for once.

But those were stupid, childish thoughts – this was reality, and I was an adult, I had responsibilities, and I had to handle this myself.

The kids. Oh Arceus, what was I going to do?

Well, lying here on my bed was not going to solve anything, I decided halfheartedly, and reluctantly I sat up. I momentarily saw spots until my blood caught up with my new position, and then I took a few slow, deep breaths.

For some moments I stared blankly ahead, thinking that perhaps I should call someone, Lucy, or Ash, but I almost immediately disregarded the notion- I didn't want to burden them with my drama.

No, I would do this alone. With a sigh I put the phone I had unconsciously taken from my pocket back, and took another breath.

Alright. I could do this.

Dad wanted Mom to return-

Even at the simple thought, my mess of feelings returned fiercely. The hot anger at how-dare-she-even-think-about-it, the embarrassing amount of happiness and hope because she-still-loves-us-she's-back-she's-alive-she's-back, the acid sadness that bit through everything because why-had-she-left-and-I-miss-you-so-Mom-but-how-can-I-ever-accept-this, the unexpected bitter sting of betrayal because Dad-he's-going-to-leave-us-again-why-did-he-have-to-ruin-everything-

That last one surprised me, because I hadn't been aware that, over time and despite everything, I'd come to accept and care for Dad again (or still, perhaps). I liked – no, if I was going to analyze my feelings I was going to do it properly – I loved this strange sort of family, the peace we had built in spite of all the circumstances. Dad and I worked together so well, and now...

Now he wanted to let her back in our lives.

But he was my father, and she was my mother, and how could I- I swallowed, my fists clenching. I was very good in denying things, but there was no sense in trying to do so now. I cared about them, despite everything they put me and the kids through- Anger surged through me, again, and I'd thought I'd had no tears left and yet my eyes were burning again. The kids. How could they do that to them?!

My nails pressed in my palms and I let out a breath, trying to let go of the anger. I needed to think about this objectively.

All things considered, I decided after some deep thought, I guessed I could forgive them a lot. I guessed I could give them another chance, that we could try again, that I was willing to get over my hurt and fear to lose everything again- if only the kids weren't involved.

How could I justify putting them through another life-changing event, when they had only just gotten used to Dad? Looking back on that particular decision, it had been incredibly selfish of me to leave the kids with Dad, a man the younger ones barely remembered, just so that I could travel with Ash and Misty. That was part of the reason why I had been able to forgive Dad relatively easily – I was no better than him.

And he had stayed. But the children-

There was no easy solution for this, I acknowledged sadly. I would have to fix this, on my own- and wasn't that strange, because when was the last time I truly had to deal with something alone? That was before Dad had returned, then I was so used to doing everything alone, but now, now, there were always my friends I could fall back on, and whenever there was anything with the kids, the Pokémon or the Gym, there was Dad…

He had honestly tried. He really, really had. I swallowed heavily. And he had succeeded, too, I admitted to myself. He was part of the family. And for so long, I had been the one responsible for this family... But since he'd come back, Dad had done everything he could to show how much he cared for us.

And I believed him.

His words from before came to me, how he'd insisted that he'd do anything for the kids- I believed him. I believed him, but still… Would he truly put the kids before himself (and what about me, then, shouldn't he put me before himself as well? Arceus, why did he have to go and ruin everything?!) My anger flashed again, and it was the easiest emotion to fall back on. The others just hurt too much.

With a shake of the head, I tried to push it aside. It would not help any of us, I needed to think clearly-

Dad... If I asked him, would he really, really drop the whole Mom thing if I asked him? For the kids, for me?

My nails dug painfully in my skin and I squeezed my eyes shut. The answer was scary with all its implications, because, after all these years, after everything, yes, yes, he would do that. I believed him, I trusted him- and I loved him, so how could I ask that of him? If he trusted my mother and if he truly and well believed that she wanted to be a family again, could I really, honestly, in good conscience, throw away the possibility of a whole, happy family?

My hands came up and covered my face, as if I could truly hide from this dilemma, as if everything would just disappear-

A timid knock on my door, and I froze. My hands fell from my face and I glanced at the clock – almost three – and swallowed. The kids would be coming home from school in about half an hour or so, so it could only be one person.

I almost wished he hadn't come, because that would've been so much easier – if he had given up, if he hadn't shown the consideration to resolve this before the kids came home, perhaps then I could still hide and justify that my selfish choice would be the best, but now…

"Yes?" My voice cracked, and I rose from the bed. Rather meet him eye to eye than let him see me in a moment of weakness. If Dad saw my weakness, he would comfort me, support me, because he was my father, and that couldn't happen now, now were supposed to be equals, both responsible for the kids.

Dad looked like a mess, and for some reason this sent a shock through me. It had been stupid to think that he wouldn't be affected by this, and there was a momentary pang of guilt as I imagined how he would feel right now, before it was quickly pushed away.

"Brock..."

I crossed my arms across my chest when he didn't continue speaking and only looked at me, his expression a painful mix of emotions now very familiar to me.

"What?" I bit out, and he flinched, sending another pang of guilt through me. Arceus damn it all.

He straightened up, raising his eyes to meet mine, a thin sliver of iron in his gaze. "I don't want the kids involved in this discussion."

More guilt, and shame, because shouldn't I have brought this up? Instead, I'd been sulking in my room – perhaps I truly still was a child, in some ways. It wasn't something I wanted to consider now, or ever.

I nodded tersely, and tried to regain some control of the situation by saying, "We need to discuss this."

"Yes." Dad nodded, then looked at me expectantly and I knew I had to say something. Suddenly everything I'd thought about in the previous hours seemed to slip away and jumble together in a vague mess, and no words came out. I needed to talk, because, ironically, this was another case in which I had to follow my own advice as well. Communication was the key in any relationship, not? And honesty…

"I... I don't know how to deal with this," I blurted out, something I'd definitely not wanted to say. Dad's expression softened and he took a step toward me. I stood rooted to the spot as he hesitantly approached me.

"Oh, Brock..." His hands were on my shoulders, and this was not how this conversation was meant to go, but I allowed him to pull me in a strange hug. My eyes burned, and despite – or maybe because of – my conflicting emotions, I still brought my hands up to return the embrace.

"I'm still angry," I muttered over his shoulder. I was too tall to rest my head against his chest or even on his shoulder as I'd done when I was younger, so I simply stood and stared at the open door.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Yeah, I know," I said after a moment of consideration. I swallowed and there were suddenly words, "I missed you, you know. When you left."

A tremble went through Dad's body.

"Mom, too," I added. "And I was angry, and, and... scared, I didn't know what to do-"

Dad hugged me tighter, his body trembling again and I wondered how well he was controlling his own emotions.

"But you came back," I said, "and, and..." I had never told him this before, had I? "And after a while, you really tried, and I... It was good like this, you know..." My voice broke, unable to say things I really wanted to say.

"I'm sorry."

"I forgave you," I continued, more words coming to me now, the truth becoming clear through my muddled feelings. "And... I'll probably forgive you for this as well…"

"Oh, Brock-"

I interrupted him before he could thank me. "But I don't know if I can forgive Mom..."

Dad tensed up.

"And the kids," I said, "They just... I don't want to put them through that... I'm sorry, but I can't-"

"I understand…" he said, and the sadness in his voice shook me. I squeezed my eyes shut and hugged him tighter, bending a bit to rest my chin on his shoulder, and he returned the embrace with an almost desperate force.

"Yeah, I guessed that," I said sadly, our grip on each other loosening a fraction. He understood, and didn't that mean he deserved a chance? That Mom deserved a chance?

I swallowed, gripping Dad tighter again. "Alright."

"Alright?" Hesitantly, hopefully, but not yet believing.

I nodded against his shoulder. "It's not... I mean..." I didn't even know what I meant. It's not something I could stop? It's something that Dad deserved? I didn't know. "Slowly," I instead said. "With the kids, I mean. First the oldest kids, first Forrest when he comes home in three weeks…"

"Th- thank you, thank you." His voice was thick and he tightened his hold on me.

Surprisingly enough, I felt a watery smile tug on my lips. "We'll... We'll see how it goes. But if it goes wrong..." I trailed of, the smile falling again.

"If it goes wrong, she goes. Promise. The kids..." Dad nodded. "If it doesn't work out, she'll leave, I promise."

Yes, that was good. That was good. I felt some tension flow out of me, and I relaxed further in the hug.

"Thank you, Brock," he whispered heavily, his arms tightening their hold on me.

"Yeah..." I was saved from having to say anything else by the loud noise of a door opening and slamming shut.

"Ah, that must be one of the kids," Dad said dryly, and after another short squeeze, he let his arms fall back to his side and stepped away from me.

A look of understanding and a sad smile was shared, before Dad turned and went downstairs to greet the newcomer. As soon as the door closed behind him, I fell back on my bed. My breath left me in a whoosh.

Please let this not be a mistake.

I hadn't told Lucy about what had happened. Even though we hadn't been able to meet in person, she had still noticed something was going on, had asked me about it – but I had waved her worry away, mentally promising that I would tell her later, when everything was resolved again. I could handle it alone for now.

As for how it would resolve itself… I wasn't sure what I hoping for. On one hand, it would be so much easier if my mother would just keep her nose out of our business – she'd never bothered before – but, on the other hand, for that to happen the kids would have to react badly to her, and I knew that would hurt her- Dad terribly.

I shook my head to clear it – no need for such depressing thoughts just yet. A grin came easily to face as I thought happier thoughts: Lucy.

She could be here any moment, it was only a matter of time before the doorbell would ring and I'd finally see her again. Excitement filled my stomach as a slowly inflating balloon. Admittedly, the previous weeks had been somewhat stilted between us due to the mother-issue constantly pressing on me, but I was sure that finally seeing each other face to face again-

"Is she there yet?" Billy poked his head into the kitchen and I almost started, before grinning at his eagerness and shaking my head in response.

"Did you hear a doorbell? Because I didn't," I teased, and he huffed and disappeared into the living room again. Still with a smile, I turned back to the lunch I was preparing. Nothing fancy, just a simple soup, and we'd have bread and salad to go along with it.

Tonight would be the real big dinner. Forrest was scheduled to come home today, and Salvadore and Tommie both had arrived several days ago. Apparently they'd accidentally met up on the road and upon hearing that Lucy would be coming had decided that this was a good excuse to visit home again.

Surprisingly enough, Yolanda, too, was still at home. She'd been here for several weeks, actually. Her travelling partner had left her in favor of someone else, she had reluctantly told us after insistent questions, and from her reaction it was easy for me to gather that, to her, that 'travelling partner' had been more than just a travelling partner.

So, this all coincided (if one could really call it a coincidence) with Lucy's meeting, which meant this would truly be a 'meet the family' event.

A loud ring interrupted my thoughts, and my grin returned. I dropped the spoon I'd been holding and dashed to the door, but both Tilly and Billy were faster, darting in front of me and coming to a slipping halt just before the front door.

"Hello!" they both yelled enthusiastically as they threw open the door. At seeing the figure in the entrance, spikey-haired and heavily packed, my smile momentarily dropped in surprise, before returning in full force.

"Forrest!" the twins exclaimed, and a moment later I jumped in to join their big family hug.

"Whoa, what a welcome." He laughed, patting my back. When we let go, he looked at us with a raised eyebrow. "Seriously, though, why so enthusiastic?"

"We thought you were Lucy," I explained, and he put his fist in his open palm, an expression of mock realization on his face.

"That's right, that was the reason I had to come home earlier! I would've almost forgotten it, with all your constant bragging-"

"-and googley eyes-" Tilly added.

"-and swooning-" Billy chimed in.

"-and grinning stupidly at nothing-" Yolanda yelled from the other room.

"-and his constant worrying if everything would be alright-" Tilly again.

"-and let's not forget Dad's constant worrying," Yolanda yelled again. I heard Dad protest, but the kids' laughter quickly drowned it out, and at seeing Forrest's cheeky grin I rolled my eyes.

"Really, guys, it wasn't so bad-" I attempted to defend myself, before my eyes fell on a car pulling in. "Lucy!"

Forrest turned around and almost fell over as the twins and I pushed him aside to be the first to meet Lucy. And yes, of course I easily won that race.

I almost tripped over my own feet in my haste to get to Lucy. When she stepped out of the car, I was immediately at her side, a wide grin on my face.

"Brock- oomph!" I tightly embraced her, and with a laugh she returned my hug. We pulled back after a moment, and she was all flustered, her eyes shining and such a beautiful smile on her lips…

I leaned down to kiss her, which immediately drew loud reactions from the kids. There were a lot of eeeews, but I heard an awwww from Yolanda, and a gagging sound from someone else. We let go, Lucy now full on red, and I realized that perhaps this hadn't been the best way to introduce her to my family. Too late for regrets now, as if I would ever regret kissing her.

Unsurprisingly the area around the front door had gotten a lot more crowded, and a quick count revealed that actually everyone had left their previous activities to meet Lucy at the door. Yolanda had a small, somewhat sad smile on her face, the twins were jumping up and down in their excitement, and Forrest grinned widely and gave me thumps-up.

My eyes fell on Timmy, who fortunately quickly stopped making gagging noises when I shot him a stern look, but that didn't stop him from complaining. "Really-" He pulled a face, "-just because we don't have our parents being all smoochy everywhere, didn't mean the job was open for you!"

He laughed at his own joke, and several others joined him, but I stiffened, my eyes locking with Dad's. Lucy gave me a worried look, her hands tightening their hold on me.

"Brock? You okay?"

Lucy's squeeze and question managed to pull me back into reality, and I regained my presence of mind to tear my gaze away from Dad before any of the kids could notice. I attempted a smile, though it couldn't look very convincingly. "I- yes, I'm okay. Where's your bag?"

It wasn't one of my greatest attempts at diverting someone's attention, but I was saved by my siblings.

"Thanks, Brock, but-" Lucy started to say, before she was interrupted by an excited, girlish voice calling her name. I gladly took the opportunity and darted out of her reach and to the back door of the car, where I could see a bag laying on the seat through the window.

When I had pulled the bag from the car, I saw that Lucy had bent down to be eye to eye with Tilly, who was now enthusiastically rambling about something. Lucy nodded along, with a somewhat distracted smile.

It seemed that Tilly's assault had been the first step in the kids' plan of attack, as soon after her the others crowded around Lucy. Only Dad, Forrest and Salvadore were keeping their distance, content to wait on their turn. Or, as was probably the case with my brothers, they just didn't know how to approach her – neither being children who could excitedly run up to a possible new friend nor having Yolanda's female confidence in social situations.

"Alright!" I yelled over the tumult of the youngest ones, deciding that saving my girlfriend from rabid siblings was probably something a boyfriend ought to do. "Let's get inside and let's get lunch!"

"Lunch!" someone yelled – Billy, I believed – before the kids started to pull my girlfriend towards the house. So much for saving her.

She gave me a helpless look, and all I could do was shrug and give her an apologetic smile. Lucy and the kids disappeared inside, and after some hesitation, Forrest and Salvadore followed the others.

Dad waited for me to catch up in the door opening, and I hurried to him, Lucy's bags clutched in my hands.

As soon as I was in intimate conversation distance, he opened his mouth, but I was faster, "Let's just enjoy this for now, okay?" I looked at him pleadingly.

His breath left him in a quiet whoosh, and Dad closed his mouth again. He nodded, and the corners of his lips turned up a bit. "She seems nice."

"She is," I easily confirmed, and placed Lucy's bags in the hallway. I'd bring them to the improvised guestroom (which was actually Dad's room, but he was joining Forrest and me in our room for these nights) after lunch.

Lunch itself progressed- well, I wouldn't say peacefully, but definitely less violent and loud than I had expected. Lucy was formally introduced to Forrest and Salvadore, and of course to Dad, and the rest of introductions were redundant, as the kids had already done so in one way or another.

There were little incidents, nothing out of the ordinary, Timmy trying to sneakily put his salad on Tilly's plate, Billy accidentally spilling his soup, Forrest asking Lucy if she had a younger sister- alright, so that last one was out of the ordinary, but still nothing major.

Really, that everything was going so well, that Fortune had finally seemed to have taken pity on me, it definitely should have raised my suspicions. Like, really a lot.

Lucy had unpacked, and after giving her a proper tour of the house and the Gym, we had now settled in the kitchen. The plan was to go get the groceries for dinner, and I was rummaging through the cabinets and the fridge to see what we still needed to buy, and Lucy wrote down what I called out.

And then-

I could have ignored it. I could have continued with my search through the cabinets, could have disregarded it as my imagination or tried to rationalize it as the sound of the TV. But my curiousness was too strong, and it would be fatal for the continued peacefulness of this holiday.

It was a voice.

I stilled in my movements, straining my ears. It was not a child's voice nor Dad's. Besides, the kids were scattered all through the house, upstairs, in the living room, in the phone area, and outside in the garden, and I knew Dad had gone to the Gym, but now-

Now I could hear him conversing in a hushed voice with a woman.

I could have left it at that. I could have turned back to the groceries and that would have been that. But I didn't, instead holding up a hand to Lucy to indicate her silence, and then I slowly walked towards the door that, via a narrow hallway, led to the Gym.

At the door, I could hear the voices more clearly – definitely Dad and a woman – but still not good enough to make out any words. A chair scraped over the floor, followed by Lucy's hesitant steps approaching me.

Perhaps, if I'd thought about it more, I wouldn't have done it. Or perhaps I still would have.

My hand rested on the doorknob, I hesitated for a fraction longer, and then pulled the door open in one smooth movement.

In the scarcely lit corridor stood Dad, indeed whispering with a woman. And though I would have liked to say that I barely recognized her, I did; even in the bad light I immediately realized who she was, and it knocked the air out of me.

Her curly hair was perhaps a bit shorter than before, but her brown eyes were exactly the same when she and Dad turned to me and Lucy in surprise. I didn't doubt that I was staring back at them with just the same shocked expression. But while Dad's expression was quickly morphed by panic, there was nothing of the sort recognizable on my mother's face.

She stood there for a long moment, simply staring at me, and then slowly a grin spread out on her face. Her eyes shone strangely when she reached out to me, and I stood frozen as she wrapped me in a hug.

"Brock! Oh, Brock-!" Her body shook as she let out a sob, and still I didn't move. "Oh my boy…" She loosened the embrace to look at me, and choked out, "You- you've grown so much…"

Maybe it was something in my expression or posture, or perhaps the situation caught up with her again, but my mother let go of me. The wide smile was still there, as were the now obvious tears in her eyes.

Then, her eyes fell on Lucy, and she somehow managed to compose herself so much that she could give her a welcoming smile. Lucy hesitantly smiled back.

"And you must be Lucy!" Ignoring everything about personal space and the strangeness of this situation, my mother pulled her in a hug. "It's so good to finally see you, I've heard great things."

"A-ah, it's nice to meet you, too, ma'am," she responded politely, awkwardly responding to the hug while looking over my mother's shoulder to make eye contact with me. I just stared blankly at the scene unfolding in front of me.

"Hey, is there someone-" A gasp cut off the voice coming from behind me, and I whirled around.

Timmy's eyes were wide and his mouth formed a perfect 'O', and finally my emotions seemed to return to me, starting with blind panic clawing in my stomach. Still, I stood rooted to the spot as I watched how my mother staggered towards my brother, her face a mixture of emotions I didn't have the energy or motivation to even attempt to identify.

"Mommy?" Timmy's voice was higher than normal, and then he hesitantly took a step forward. My mother bent through her knees until she was on the same level as Timmy, and then slowly held her arms out in a very obvious invitation.

"Hello, Timmy," she whispered in a choked voice.

"Mommy." Surprisingly – or perhaps it shouldn't have been surprising – a grin slowly appeared on Timmy's face. "Mommy!" He ran forward and straight into our mother's arms, who let out something between a sob and a laugh.

I stared at the scene, and closed my mouth when I realized it had been hanging open. Finally but slowly my functions returned to me, and I turned to glance at Dad, who was wiping his eyes, a smile on his face, though it disappeared when he caught my eye.

"Mommy? Mom?" Another voice joined Timmy's one, and then more, and I didn't need turn back to the scene to know that everyone had heard the uproar and had come to take a look, and that they were now having a happy family reunion. I still turned to look, anyway.

My mother's figure had completely disappeared under the wave of children, and for a moment I felt utterly alone. But not everyone had immediately jumped in, because both Forrest and Yolanda were standing further back, mixed emotions on their faces.

My mother's face was puffy and red but still held that wide grin when she emerged from the hug, and I saw how my oldest younger brother and sister stiffened when she looked at them.

My mother held out a hand, but this only seemed to fuel their hesitation. Yolanda shared a glance with Forrest, then looked at me. I stared at her searching, hopeful expression, and I had no idea how to respond. Her eyes flitted to Dad, who nodded with tears in his eyes. Lastly, Yolanda turned her eyes back to our mother, but Forrest continued looking at me, helplessly.

"Yolanda," my mother breathed, and Forrest looked back at her and Yolanda. "Forrest." Her voice broke, and a shudder ran through her.

"Mom…" Yolanda whispered, taking half a step forward. For a moment it seemed as if Forrest wanted to reach out to Yolanda, but he stopped himself.

"Oh my children…" Her arms were opened for a hug, and with a sob Yolanda threw herself into the embrace. Forrest's hand was half-heartedly raised, as if he had wanted to stop her, before he dropped it back at his side.

While rubbing Yolanda's back with one hand, she held her free hand out to Forrest, and I could imagine the pleading look on her face. Forrest took a step forward, and I looked away, and from the sounds I knew that he, too, had fallen.

I swallowed heavily, trying to keep the burning feeling that was crawling up my throat down. It was no use, and I felt the hotness crawling over my skin and spreading through my body. Balling my fists at my side, I ignored how Lucy tried to catch my eyes and hastily turned away. Dad attempted to catch my arm when I moved past him into the corridor leading towards the Gym, but I stalked right past him, and whatever words he spoke were lost to the ringing in my ears.

I picked up speed, my feet hitting the floor in rhythmic thumps that could not keep up with the beat of my heart. My eyes stung and I hated how the shady corridor became blurred. The openness of the Gym was a small relief and I continued running until I stood in the middle of the field, but my lungs still burned in a way that couldn't be from my short sprint.

I clenched my eyes shut and breathed heavily, my finger nails digging in my palm. I wanted to hit something. I opened my eyes and almost desperately looked around the field, but as this was a Rock Gym there was a definite lack of punchable objects.

Again, I turned around and around, my eyes searching for something…

The sudden vastness and emptiness of the field surrounding me on all sides hit me as if symbolism itself had punched me in the gut.

Alone. All on my own. Only me, myself-

"Brock!"

And Lucy.

She momentarily stood still in the door opening, before running towards me. I hadn't bothered with turning on the lights in the Gym, but even in this half-light I could see her utter confusion, and more apparent, her worry.

"Brock?" She came to a halt in front of me, her eyes searching my face and unconsciously, I took a step backward. Lucy startled at that, but then simply took another step forward.

"Brock?" Her voice had gentled though still carried the pitch of worry, and her warm hand landed on my arm. "What's going on?"

I only stared at her, my mouth half-opened in indecision. The burning rage was pushed back, but still simmered under the surface, and while the loneliness had felt suffocating and terrifying before, I now felt myself long back to it. I didn't want to answer questions, I didn't want to feel, I didn't want to deal with this, I couldn't-

Lucy's gaze was patient but unrelenting, and finally I attempted to choke out an answer. "My mother... she left years ago."

Lucy stared at me, her mouth opened a bit, before she seemed to shake off her daze and there was only sympathy on her face. Her hand gave my arm a light squeeze, and she took a step closer.

"Brock…"

No. I didn't want- I didn't- I couldn't- It was just too much. The patient look in her eyes, the hand on my arm, Dad's teary smile, Timmy's look of disbelief and hope, Yolanda and Forrest's hesitation, Mom's hug-

I shook my head fiercely and stepped away from Lucy, pulling my arm out of her grip. My eyes begged her to understand it.

"I need to be alone," I said, my voice surprisingly coming out in a weak whisper. I repeated stronger, "I need to be alone."

Lucy's eyebrows furrowed and she took a step towards me again. "Brock-" she attempted, but I shook my head again, more desperately now. Inwardly, the desires to either punch something, run as far as I could or hide under my covers and sleep until this was all over were fighting for dominance.

"Sorry, I just-" I couldn't explain it. Not now. Definitely not now. I was out of control, I didn't know- I needed to get back in control of myself, needed- "Please…" I was surprised by how desperate my voice sounded. "I need to be alone. I need to sort this out. I don't know- Dad- And the kids-"

She opened her mouth and her hand reached for me again, but then she pulled back and closed her mouth. A small, sad smile of understanding appeared on her face.

"I understand," she said, and nodded. "But… we'll talk about this later, okay?"

Wasting no time in taking this chance to get away, I quickly nodded.

"I'll... I'll just go get the groceries, okay?" I nodded to myself. "That's a good excuse to get away for a while, right?" I tried to joke, but it came out as a serious question. Lucy nodded in response, the sad smile still in place.

"Good- good luck," Lucy said in a strange sort of goodbye. I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Thank you," I whispered heavily, and I hoped she understood that I was thanking her for more than just that.

After another nod, I turned away from her and hastily walked to the exit of the Gym, before Lucy called, "Brock!"

I stopped, and half-turned.

"I…" She hesitated for a moment. "You know I'll always be here for you if you ever… need me."

I quickly nodded, then turned my eyes back to the exit of the Gym. For a moment longer I hesitated, an embarrassingly large part of me wanting to run back and bawl on her shoulder, but I mentally shook my head.

I walked out of the Gym, alone.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Yeah, this chapter wasn't really funny, and I had some difficulties writing it, loads of drama and angst and all XD Anyway, I hope you still enjoyed it.

Also, I'm participating in Camp NaNo this April, which is cool because I'll get a lot of writing done (hopefully) but it also means that any replies to reviews and PMs might be slow in that month. Just a heads up :P But don't worry, the next chapter should be up in three weeks! :D

Thank you very much for having patience with me and this story, it's really great that I get so much of a response. On that note, reviews are always welcome XD

Thank you!

Recommendations:

Pokémon: First Encounters by CookiesNCreamNess. FFN. A short one-shot about Ash and Misty, PokéShipping and all, also some appearances of May and Gary and others. It's silly, but it made me grin and it's short and sweet, so give it a read!

Pokémon: Change For A Nickel by Kevalier. FFN. Really quite different than what I usually recommend, as this is a story about a Pokémon OC as main character. But the writing is superb, very funny, and the story seems very promising. It's a multi-chapter just starting out, but definitely worth reading!

Harry Potter: The Diaries of Scorpius Malfoy by .nette. FFN. Although sadly unfinished, this multi-chapter is very amusing nonetheless. Written in diary form and filled with jokes and witty language and sarcasm, Scorpius tells us about his rivalry with Rose – and how that changes XD Very funny!

Recommendations are welcome!